St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-04-22
ROSs NEW GAMBLER.
Frank HuntOOn, the Prince of Bat
carat--Fsis Gorgeous Rooms.

Frank EFuntOOn, the Prince of Bac.
carat--Esis Gorgeous Rooms.
Chicago Tribune.
Baccarat is to-day by long odds the favor
lite gambling game with New York men
about town who are addicted to ''plung-
ing" The game seems to be quite an in
vidlous one, judging from the strong, foot
hold it has already gained in New York.
There are several so-called proprietary
clubs" in Capt Williams precinct which
sport baccarat boards, and the sums which
are nightly lost and won at the tables are
phenomenally large. A few nights ago,
for instance, at the baccarat game in the
Carlton club. No Is West Twenty
fifth street, Frank .Huntoon, the
S42. 900. When about to retire from the
table Huntoon offered to flip copper with
any one present for $685. 600. No one,
however, took up the offer.
The club at No. IS is the most fashion
able and select of all the proprietary
clubs" at which baccarat is played. 1t is
sumptuously fitted up: the swallow-tailed
walters are as thick as at Deimonico's. and
at midnight an elaborate supper is served
free of charge. Theoretically. the ''club''
is only for bona fide members. but practic-
ally it is open to any one backed by an in
PRODUCTION. Frank Huntoon, the pro-
prietor of this sumptuous and well-ap-
pointed restaurant is professional
gambler with quite notable career. He
is said to be of New England extraction,
and first figured in New York as the pro-
pretor of a certain well-appointed ''pri-
vate" poker room, which he conducted
in the house adjoining No. IS
West Twenty-fifth street. The rooms
got to be known as places
where merchants, men about town and
young men holding responsible positions
could play game of poker for whatever
stakes they might desire without fear of
unpleasant interruption. and with the as
surance that every precaution was being
taken to insure privacy. So well did the
private" poker rooms pay that when a
few months ago the Carlton club, which
was maintained by John Chamberlain, went
out of existence, Mr.. Huntoon rented the
building, and the Proprietary club" with
baccarat as the leading attraction, sprang
into life. The name Carlton club still
stands over the hall door and upon the
door mat The scenes nightly to be wit
messed at No. Is strongly recall the days of
the Turf club, which club it will be re-
membered, was disbanded in consequence
of the scandal which grew out of the num-
Der of suicides among its jeunesse- dore
members, owing to heavy losses at play.
In appearance Huntoon is magnificent
specimen of manhood. He is some feet
inches in height. with broad, square-cut
shoulders, massive chest and a Well-knit
muscular figure. He has large blue eyes
and a high color. His manners are very
suaye, easy and digniied and he dresses
with much elegance. His mode of living
verges on regal extravaganza, his personal
expenses exceeding $50, 900 year. When
he goes off on an occasional spree favorite
form of amusement with him is to load his
pockets with silver pieces and pelt the
jinglng coins at the heads of barkeepers
and hangers-on in any Of the saloons ne
may chance to visit. Among New York
famesters he is regarded as the professional
gambler par excellence of modern life.
Baccarat, it maybe briefly explained, is
very similar in its leading principles to
vingt-et-un, Or twenty-one. The
players bid among themselves for the
privilege of being banker" the banker
ship going to the highest bidder. The
'house's" profit lies in the 5 per cent taken
out of the amount bid for the bank. AS
the bankership expires after two packs
have been dealt, and as the average bank
brings about $1,000, it will readily be per-
ceived that the percentage eXacted is some
what exorbitant. The players who "buek'
against the bank money are styled PUN
terS."
Huntoon, as also the other managers of
proprietary gambling clubs, affects an air of
indifference at any reference to interfer-
ence on the part of the police authorities
Their clubs are private institutions" they
claim. and members are at liberty to do
as they please. The police hedge them
selves behind the plea of mo evidence"
and ''impossibility to obtain proof" and
have so far eyinced little or no inclination
to offer interference. Perhaps they have